The Louisiana Department of Social Services opened a Disaster Food Stamp application site in Leesville on Friday at the old Lowe’s building at 1111 Boone Street for residents impacted by Hurricane Ike.
The air-conditioned building in Leesville was provided by Lowe’s free of charge to the parish, who in turn made the building available to the state, thanks to the hard work of Jackie Kelly, site manager for the Office of Family Support for DSS in Leesville, according to Jim Tuck, president of the Vernon Parish Police Jury. Kelly said acquiring the building was a joint effort.
“Lowe’s manager, Perry Gremillion as well as Jim Tuck, with the cooperaton of Ken Noble, Vernon Parish Director of Homeland Security, and the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office made it happen,” she said. “This building and the utilities were donated by Lowe’s. That is an excellent community service.”
On Friday, as drivers made the turn onto Boone Street from US 171, they were greeted by a huge flashing sign that read “ Disaster Food Stamps...Now taking applications....A-C,” followed by a large arrow pointing to the old Lowe’s building.
Inside the building, what greeted applicants looked nothing like the lines that stymied residents three years ago after Hurricane Rita.
Then, people lined up outside the Office of Family Support in New Llano, sweating in the late summer heat without water, in order to apply.
Some had to seek medical attention due to the harsh conditions.
This time, residents can line up inside the cavernous Lowe’s building, though there weren’t many lines on Friday.
In fact, most applicants were sitting comfortably at tables, filling out their applications while DSS workers and others swarmed the building.
Besides Leesville Police, an ambulance, military personnel and parish personnel were also on site.
However, applicants should expect to wait in line for the application process, according to DSS. Households are also encouraged to send their healthiest member.
In addition, applicants should expect to be interviewed by an agency representative who will determine eligibility.
Applicants found eligible, will be provided an EBT card upon which benefits will be loaded within 72 hours.
Only Vernon residents who do not already receive food stamps should apply for Disaster Food Stamps, according to DSS.
Those who have already received benefits from Hurricane Gustav or who are already food stamp recipients do not need to reapply.
Their additional benefits will be automatically uploaded onto their Electronic Benefit Cards.
In addition, applicants must meet income limits and must also have experienced one or more of the following as a direct result of Hurricane Ike:
-Loss of food;
-Damage to, or destruction of, your home or self-employment business;
-Disaster-related expenses for which you do not expect to be reimbursed during the disaster benefit period; or
-Loss or inaccessibility of income, including reduction or termination of income, or a significant delay in receipt of income due to the disaster.
Income limits range from $2,079 for a household of one; $2,707, for a household of two; $3,108 for a household of three; $3,663, four; $4,033, five; $4,504, six; $4,770, seven; and $5,183, eight.
For each additional member add $413 to the income limit.
The maximum allotment for a household of one would be $162; for a household of two, $298; three, $426; four, $542; five, $643; six, $772; seven, $853; eight, $975. For each additional member add $122 to the allotment.
Liquid resources such as cash on hand and cash in checking or savings accounts as well as unearned income such as Social Security, retirement, veterans benefits, and child support will also be considered, said Donna Matthews, a community specialist from DSS’s Alexandria Office who was on hand Friday at the Leesville site.
Applicants should bring the following:
-Verification of identify of the head of the household and that of an authorized representative who is applying on behalf of the head of household.
You can provide a driver’s license, picture ID, work or school ID, voter registration card, pay stubs, birth certificate, an ID for health benefits or another assistance or social services program.
-Names and Social Security Numbers of all persons residing in your household on 8/30/08.
-Verification of you and your household’s residence on 8/30/08.
-Information regarding income and bank accounts for all members in your houshold.
It would be helpful if you could provide pay stubs, pay statements, and/or bank statements.
In addition, Texas evacuees can also apply for Disaster Food Stamps, provided they were in Vernon Parish during the disaster and can provide proof of that residence in the form of contact information of the person with whom the Texas residents stayed.
“Governor Jindal’s top priority is that applicants do not have to wait in long lines and are made comfortable in air conditioning with water and healthy snacks,” said Interim Secretary Kristy Nichols. “This will depend in large part on applicants ensuring that they come to the application centers on the correct day. We must all work together to make sure this program runs as efficiently as possible so our residents can get the help they need.”
In order to reduce lines during the initial round of applications, DSS has worked with local officials to institute a system that would sort application dates by using the last names of those seeking benefits. Applicants would be sorted as follows:
Day One (September 19): A-C
Day Two (September 20): D-G
Day Three (September 21): H-L
Day Four (September 22): M-R
Day Five (September 23): S-Z
This would be followed by two open days (September 24 and September 25) where all applicants regardless of name would be able to apply. This system will work for both Louisiana residents and evacuees from Texas who took refuge here from Hurricane Ike.
Applicants are asked to continue to monitor the Department of Social Service’s website as well as news reports for the most current information regarding site openings and hours of operation.
Participants in the regular state Food Stamp Program do not need to apply for disaster aid because any revised benefits will automatically be added to their current Electronic Benefit card.
Individuals with disabilities can designate an authorized representative to apply for Disaster Food Stamps on their behalf.
Also, each site manager has developed special procedures for assisting the disabled. Applicants with these special needs should make themselves known to the site manager or staff at the site.
In order to help the elderly, Council on Aging staff members have been trained to administer Disaster Food Stamps. People 60 years of age or older should contact their local parish Councils on Aging for the nearest Disaster Food Stamp Assistance Application Site for seniors.
If the local Council on Aging is not available, seniors should contact the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs at 1-877- 340-9100.
Residents who get phone calls about food stamps asking for their social security number should not respond; those requests are not coming from DSS.
For more information about the schedules of the sites and to learn who is eligible to receive Disaster Food Stamps visit: www.dss.state.la.us or call 1-888-LAHELPU (1-888-524-3578).
Leesville, La. —
